Chapter Twenty
Madam Pomfrey took one look at Araminta and sent Professor Snape away, tutting and muttering to herself. "Dear child, has no one told you what it means to be a woman?"
"Um, no," said Araminta, trying to hide her little problem. "What does that have to do with me? I'm dying. Please help me."
Madam Pomfrey rolled her eyes and gave Araminta a starter kit of 'girl stuff.' "Read the instructions to use this and then we'll talk." When Araminta came back from the bathroom looking very embarrassed, Madam Pomfrey sat her down and gave her a talk about the birds and the bees.
Araminta thought it was fascinating. "So all of these things--these changes..." She contemplated her larger chest for a moment. "All of these things are part of becoming a real witch?"
"Yes," said Madam Pomfrey. "You'll be even stronger than you were before. Be careful in the next few days. You don't want to hurt anybody with your new powers by accident."
Feeling much better, Araminta got ready to go back to bed. When she went into the hall, Professor Snape was waiting there. "Narcissa," he yelled when he saw her and came running.
When he got up close, he looked very disappointed. "You're not Narcissa after all."
Araminta put her hand on his arm. "No, I'm Araminta Malfoy-Potter. I'm sorry I couldn't tell you before. I was too worried about how this aging spell was working. I didn't know that I was just turning into a woman--I thought I was about to die."
Snape nodded and a tear trickled down the side of his face. "I'm sorry that I took advantage of you. I really did think you were Narcissa."
"It was a case of mistaken identity," Araminta reassured him. "I know it will never happen again, and I forgive you." She hugged Professor Snape briefly, and then gave him a goodnight kiss on the cheek. "I'm sure there's another Narcissa out there for you."
Professor Severus Snape brightened up considerably. "Yeah, I bet there is. Maybe I should put a personal ad in the Daily Prophet. What do you think?"
"I think that is a wonderful idea," laughed Araminta. Taking his arm, she let Snape escort her back to her room.
More updates tomorrow--got to go.